Make art yarn

There’s been considerable interest in the magical art yarn post we put up the other day. People are excited about colour and colour blending. Great way to start the year. We love making our own art yarn. We like sharing ideas about colourways and how to spin something which looks both original and attractive. Colour and texture are always important. Art yarns can use up your bits and pieces of dyed or leftover fibre. You just need the ideas. The UrbanGypZ video does just that for you. Shows you a way of getting an interesting yarn together.

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Unusual fibres

It was Christine and Margaret who got us all enthusiastic about rare breeds and unusual fibres because they had seen them at the Bendigo Wool and Sheep Show this year. Margaret has been spinning different breeds and fibres she bought. It was good , then, that we could visit the rare breeds and fibres shop at Salisbury when we were out for Equipment Day. We really enjoyed having a chance to look at and feel the fibres and fleeces advertised on their site.

Janette has been spinning the camel and silk fibre. It’s like iced coffee in colour and so soft. There’s a nice sheen to it too. There was some lovely llama fibre (right) she had purchased too which is the colour of milk chocolate and also very soft. These fibres are good to spin but also make a change because  while you are spinning you are thinking about how you will use them. They encourage your creative thinking because of the look and texture. We are all still wondering what we shall do with the rose fibre a number of us bought…it will happen!

Needlefelted poodle

We have been enjoying watching Alan’s needlefelted poodle being developed each week. Last week he was needlepointing in a way that sounded like a steam train and we all wanted to woo-woo! This week he was working on the body and is getting an interesting look. It’s very effective in contrast to the darker parts. He has had to  think hard about this and the face will take time and patience. He actually breeds and shows these dogs so this is a picture of a dog he had. She became a dancing dog and looked beautiful dressed up in her show clothes and loved performing. She was always a bit of a star, apparently, so it all worked out well for her. We look forward to seeing the finished picture but , meanwhile , we are enjoying the journey. It’s a lot of work and stabbing!

Show and Tell

Margaret: The graph knitting book she had got at Equipment Day along with the sock wool, the teal coloured wool from Rare Fibres and the little present we all got from them with the ruler and spinning wheel earrings.

Christine: Three handspun wool green hats with pastel flower buttons. Spun wool in soft oranges and creams. Rose fibre from Rare Wools,

Jan:  Snowman with the turquoise accessories. Amigurumi crochet.

Alexis: Knitted hats in handspun wool with felted trims. One in lavender and the other in green. Ball of spun wool in purple and white.

Cathy: Cake of dyed handspun wool in oranges and fawns (onion skins). Cake of dark alpaca fleece plied with fawn coloured Corriedale. Fluffy , puffy child’s beanie knitted in acrylic yarn in pastel colours.

Sheila: Baby beanie in handspun  brown alpaca . Hand kitted in double rib.  Hand knitted dark blue beret with a top knot feature in handspun wool. Green and red fleece dyed with food colouring. Carded bag of Suzie Horn’s bits which she’d got at Equipment Day. Book on weaving. Bag of fibre from rare wools in autumn colours.

Marina: Massive bobbin of spun wool. Predominantly blue.